The short answer
Garden designers in the UK typically charge in one of three ways. By the hour it is usually around £60–£150, with day rates of roughly £400–£900 (higher in London and the South East). On larger projects many work to a percentage of the build budget, commonly 8–20%. As a flat fee, a small-garden concept plan often starts around £500–£1,000, while a full package with a measured survey, concept, planting plan and material schedule typically runs £2,500–£5,000+ depending on size and complexity. For a larger project the design stage is the part that prevents costly layout mistakes, which is where it tends to earn its place.
Design fees confuse people because designers price in different ways. Here is how the hourly, day-rate, percentage and flat-fee models compare — and what a full design package should actually deliver.
Typical UK design fees
- Hourly rate~£60–£150 / hour
- Day rate~£400–£900 / day
- Percentage of budget8–20%
- Small-garden concept£500–£1,000
- Full design package£2,500–£5,000+
How designers price the work
- Hourly: around £60–£150 per hour, useful for advice, a consultation or a small scope.
- Day rate: roughly £400–£900 a day, higher in London and the South East.
- Percentage of budget: commonly 8–20% of the overall build cost on larger design-and-build projects.
- Flat fee: a fixed price for a defined package — concept only, or a full design with survey, drawings and planting plan.
| Service | Typical fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation / advice | £60–£150 / hour | or a half-day rate |
| Small-garden concept plan | £500–£1,000 | layout idea, not full drawings |
| Full design package | £2,500–£5,000+ | survey, plans, planting, schedule |
| Percentage of build | 8–20% | larger design-and-build projects |
Indicative UK figures for guidance. Higher in London and the South East. Sources: MyJobQuote and Checkatrade design guides.
What a full design package includes
A proper design package is more than a sketch. It usually covers a measured site survey, a concept stage for your feedback, then final drawings — a scaled hard-landscaping layout, a planting plan with quantities, a schedule of materials and written specifications. That detail is what lets several landscapers quote on exactly the same scope, so you compare like for like. On a project over roughly £10,000, a considered concept plan from a registered designer typically helps avoid £3,000–£5,000 of layout regret — moving a patio or rebuilding a wall after the fact — which is where the fee tends to pay for itself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a garden designer charge in the UK?
Typically £60–£150 per hour or £400–£900 a day, with many larger projects priced at 8–20% of the build budget. As a flat fee, a small-garden concept starts around £500–£1,000 and a full design package runs £2,500–£5,000+ depending on size and complexity.
Is a garden designer worth the money?
On a larger project, often yes. A considered concept plan typically prevents £3,000–£5,000 of layout regret — relocating a patio or rebuilding a wall after the build — and lets several landscapers quote on the same scope so you compare like for like.
What does a garden design package include?
Usually a measured survey, a concept stage for feedback, then final drawings: a scaled hard-landscaping layout, a planting plan with quantities, a schedule of materials and written specifications.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific garden. They are guidance, not a quotation.